The New York Times Strands Puzzle: November 2 Challenge (Issue 609) and Keys to Victory for Competitors

The daily Strands puzzle from the New York Times, issue 609 on November 2, presents a unique challenge for word enthusiasts, and runners may find it easier to solve. Strands differs from traditional word games; it requires players to find hidden words related to a specific theme within a 6x8 letter grid. The difficulty lies in connecting letters in all directions (horizontally, vertically, diagonally) and changing directions within a single word. Given the difficulty of some answers, we offer hints and solutions to help you. The theme of today's Strands puzzle revolves around the phrase "Go the distance," with the additional keyword "26.2 miles," which symbolizes the full distance of a marathon race.

How to Get Hints in Strands

To enhance your chances of solving the Strands puzzle, you can obtain in-game hints. When you find three correct words not related to the main theme (non-thematic words), you will be given the option to request a hint. This hint will highlight letters of one of the main hidden words in the puzzle. Words that can be used to get hints include: RUNT, TURN, TURNER, STAT, STAR, HATS, RATS, CAPE, MOTE, STRAT, TART, TARTS, ROAN, DRAT, DRAM, HOME, TOME, TIME, TIMER, PERK.

Thematic Words in the Strands Puzzle

The thematic words that form part of the solution to the Strands puzzle, excluding the spangram (which represents the overarching keyword of the theme and spans from one side of the puzzle to the other), are: PACE, START, FINISH, RUNNER, HYDRATION, TIMEKEEPER. These words all revolve around the idea of "going the distance" and the athletic challenges associated with a marathon race.

Today's Main Spangram

Today's main Spangram in the Strands puzzle, Sunday, November 2, 2025, which summarizes the puzzle's theme and spans across the board, is MARATHON. To find it, start from the letter M located in the bottom row, three letters to the right, then follow the path upwards to connect the letters.

Additional Tips to Improve Your Strands Performance

• Utilize Edge Letters: Start by looking for words in the corners and edges, as the letters there have fewer connection options, making it easier to identify words.
• Search for Synonyms and Slight Variations: After finding a thematic word, try to look for its synonyms or similar words, or try adding letters like "S" to form plural forms or derivatives.
• Change Directions Smartly: Remember that Strands allows connecting letters in all directions (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and directions can change within a single word. Exploit this flexibility to find unconventional word paths.
• Benefit from Hints: If you're stuck after getting a hint (which highlights the letters of a thematic word) and still can't decipher it, you can find three more non-thematic words to request an additional hint. In this case, the puzzle will highlight the letters in the correct order for that word, directly revealing it to you.
• No Penalty for Errors: Unlike some other word games, there is no penalty for wrong guesses in Strands. In fact, finding non-thematic words contributes to getting hints.

Notable Past Strands Challenges

Among the most notable Strands puzzles that posed a significant challenge in recent weeks are:

• The "Dated slang" puzzle on January 21, where the hardest word players faced was PHAT.
• The "Thar she blows!" puzzle on January 15, where the difficulty lay in the words BALEEN or RIGHT.
• The "Off the hook" puzzle on January 9, where the most challenging words were BIGEYE or SKIPJACK.